The Milwaukee metro is home to 1,566,361 people (down 0.6% over five years), with a median household income of $76,404. Typical rent of $1,549/month works out to 24.3% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Milwaukee's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 24.7% |
| Manufacturing | 16.9% |
| Professional & management | 11.3% |
| Retail trade | 10.6% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 7.6% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 24.3% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Milwaukee market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,549/month suggests a household income around $62,000/year. The metro's median household income is $76,404.
By workforce share: Education & health care (24.7%), Manufacturing (16.9%), Professional & management (11.3%) (Census ACS 5-year).